Think of it less as bad people, than individuals drawn into self-reinforcing belief systems through algorithmically amplified echo chambers. Modern technology—primarily smartphones and platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but also cable news (Fox/NewsNation) and podcasts—systematically exploits cognitive biases such as confirmation bias and correlation neglect to isolate users from dissenting viewpoints. This creates environments where belief and exclusivity override rational discourse, mirroring historical patterns where economic distress fueled extremism.

Just as post-WWI Germany’s hyperinflation and reparations under the Treaty of Versailles bred widespread anger and desperation—enabling extremist movements like the Nazis to gain traction by scapegoating minorities—today’s algorithmic ecosystems channel similar frustrations into polarized identity politics. Users aren’t merely “gullible”; they’re trapped in feedback loops where platforms prioritize engagement over truth, reinforcing preexisting narratives while filtering out complexity. This isn’t unique to the U.S.: Brazil’s Bolsonaro movement, France’s National Rally, and Italy’s Brothers of Italy all leverage these dynamics to mobilize bases through emotional appeals to victimhood and exclusion.

The core issue isn’t malice but structural amplification. Social media’s profit-driven algorithms curate content that deepens ideological divides, making users perceive opposing views as existential threats. Fixing this requires confronting how technology reshapes human cognition—not blaming individuals for succumbing to systems designed to exploit their biases. As one study notes, these echo chambers don’t just reflect polarization; they manufacture it through recursive reinforcement of extreme content.